NZXT KRAKEN ELITE RGB V2 240, 280, and 360 CPU Cooler Review
Cinebench R24 Thermal Test
OC3D CPU Cooler Stress Test
We want to push CPU coolers to their limit, and that requires a workload that will place maximum load on our i5-14600K CPU. Why didn’t we choose an i7 or an i9? The simple answer is that we want to test various CPU Cooler options. If we put the hottest CPU we could in our system, only the best of the best CPU coolers would even pass our testing procedures. Since not everyone uses such a power-hungry CPU, we decided to tone the wattage and thermal loads down by using an i5-14600K. Even so, this CPU consumes a lot of power and generates a lot of heat under all-core workloads.
For testing, we have used Cinebench R24. This is an all-core workload that places heavy strain on all available CPU cores. This load pushes CPU thermals higher than any other and does so consistently. We use Cinebench R24 for 30 minutes to see how hot our CPU gets over that time. If CPU temperatures rise to 100 degrees Celsius or over, that CPU cooler has failed our testing. This is part of the reason why there are more coolers on our higher fan RPM cooler charts. Some coolers will pass our thermal testing at higher fan RPMs but fail at lower fan RPMs.
1000 RPM Performance
Below, we can see NZXT’s new Kraken Elite 2024 cooler work under a properly heavy workload. NZXT’s new Kraken Elite V2 gives the HYTE THICC Q60 a run for its money despite the latter’s much thicker radiator. We can also see NZXT’s new 280 and 360 models deliver some of the best results in our 1,000 RPM graphs. Not bad.
1500 RPM Performance
At 1500 RPM, we can see NZXT’s 240mm Kraken Elite V2 achieve results that are only a few degrees behind Arctic’s Liquid Freezer 360mm and 420mm liquid coolers. Not bad for a mere 240mm cooler.
Once again, NZXT’s 280mm and 360mm models deliver some of the best performance levels that we have seen on our new test rig.
Max RPM Performance
When we max out our fan RPMs, NZXT’s KRAKEN ELITE V2 series continues to deliver strong results. The 240mm version is matching the performance of much larger cooling solutions, and NZXT once again battles for the top spot. The 360mm model bests EK’s CR360, and is only a few degrees behind Corsair’s TITAN 360 RX.
